First Hands-On Impressions of 'The New iPad'

[MacRumors]

Several tech blogs have posted their hands-on impressions of the new iPad, announced earlier today.

Image courtesy Slashgear​

Slashgear:

"It's Resolutionary" Apple says of the new iPad, and we have to agree. We've just grabbed some hands-on time with the new Retina Display iOS 5.1 tablet, and the difference from the iPad 2 - which, remember, stays on sale alongside it - is vast. The pixels in the 2048 x 1536 display are, at regular arm's length, completely indistinguishable: it's only when you get up close that you can make them out.

The Verge:

Physically, the device feels nearly the same in hand as the previous model. Though it does have a slight bump in thickness, the difference is nearly unnoticeable. Since the design hasn't dramatically changed, there's not much to note in the casing department, and though there are improved cameras present, the general seating and size of the sensors seems unchanged.

Image courtesy The Verge​

​

Engadget:

There's no doubt that this here tablet feels every bit like a $500 product, oozing quality from edge to edge and being as delightful as ever to use. Is it the second coming of the tablet? Of course not, but if we've learned anything from the iPhone 4S, it doesn't need to be. Apple just put an insane amount of real estate in the hands of crafty developers, and frankly, we can't wait to see what they cook up.

Article Link: First Hands-On Impressions of 'The New iPad'

 

[troop231]

Such a gorgeous screen and an amazing update this year.

 

[borgqueenx]

Nice. Go iFixit and tear it apart to see the new GPU, the CPU, and ram and tell us whats inside.

Oh and take my money apple!

 

[Rizzm]

So the verdict on the name is "The new iPad?" We definitely can't just call it iPad, as we reference the original iPad all the time.

 

[840quadra]

I am excited about this. It is going to be my first iPad, not because I was waiting for it to be perfect, it is just that I now have a personal / business need for one.

The old one would have been just fine for my digital photography needs, however the newer more detailed screen should really help me in the show and tell department.

 

[powerslave12r]

I had promised myself I would resist buying the new iPad. Damnit!

Edit: Caved in, it's on preorder. Broke, but worth it.

 

[Eduardo1971]

Naysayers will say this is not a major iPad refresh, but for me this will be my first iPad.

Look at how the iPhone 4 S sold-people where of the opinion that the iPhone 4 S would not sell because the 'spects' were unremarkable...

 

[Consultant]

The new Apple CEO introduces The new iPad.

Retina display will be amazing.

 

[CrunchyPickle]

How about internet speed and caching? Does it still refresh when going back to previous tabs?

 

[Timur]

Higher resolution display was what I was waiting for. Unfortunately my other main wish for a lighter pad was not fulfilled (iPad 3 is slightly heavier even). Still it's a buy now, PDF on this screen is worth looking at.

 

[jackrv]

So the verdict on the name is "The new iPad?" We definitely can't just call it iPad, as we reference the original iPad all the time.

It could be just iPad, just like iPod, or iMac, or MacBook Air.

It's the iPad (3rd Generation)

 

[kolax]

What is it called?

iPad 3? No where on Apple's site does it mention it.

 

[Komiksulo]

Niiice.

Still doesn't support the AWS 1700-MHz band though. Does Apple not like that band or something?

 

[daxomni]

Such a gorgeous screen and an amazing update this year.

What's amazing to me is that you can blow through your entire monthly data plan in fifteen minutes. What happened to all those unlimited data plans that were going to allow Apple's iCloud to become a serious storage platform? In an era of ever increasing resolutions and ever shrinking data plans, why are we expected to settle for local storage that is less than a tenth of what the PC era gave us? Each of us has different expectations as to what makes a great tablet, but I don't recall reading post after post and thread after thread about how bad the resolution was or how slow the processor is. So why is Apple so busy fixing what isn't even broken and yet so hesitant to address (or even acknowledge) what people are actually upset about?

 

[Lesser Evets]

I felt the Tim Cook intro would lead to something just a TAD more revolutionary. He's absolutely right, but in the wrong year: it is a PC supplanting desktops. I was on the edge of my seat for him to say something, like...

...and so we made a dock to connect the iPad to a hard drive which can store a terabyte and provide expansion to the iPad when it becomes a desktop during sedentary times...

But, no. Figures. The moment Apple gets off its iAss and makes something like that, they shut down about every other desktop out there for 90% of the market, and conquer everything ever made.

 

[Psychild]

Apple Is Groovy!

Don't need the new iPad 3 .... but I want! Here I Go Again! Living on poverty level income makes it tuff to keep up to date with the latest greatist most groovy Apple products. Apple hardship program now needed.

 

[Timur]

What is it called?

iPad 3? No where on Apple's site does it mention it.

German Apple online Store says "iPad (3rd generation)"

 

[kolax]

German Apple online Store says "iPad (3rd generation)"

I see. I guess they are doing what they do with the Macs and Apple TV - don't give it an iteration name.

We'd be on MacBook Pro 11 by now or something. Wouldn't surprise me if the next iPhone is just called "the new iPhone".

Not sure I completely agree with them refusing to name it iPad 3 though. Though I guess it'll be known as the iPad (early 2012) model..

 

[DavidLeblond]

I'm guessing years from now this will be the "early 2012 iPad." Just like how they refer to their computers.

EDIT: Kilamite beat me to it.

 

[rovex]

So is the new iPad more tapered or what? Help to offset that added thickness.

 

[resonator]

Front Facing Camera still VGA??

It appears they may not have updated the front camera - still listing as VGA for the 'Facetime' camera on the front. The back camera was updated to 5 megapixels but Apple appears to be very vague about the specs for the front facing camera. I find it hard to believe that they would leave it at under 1 megapixel. Anyone with more info on that?

 

[Ugg]

What's amazing to me is that you can blow through your entire monthly data plan in fifteen minutes. What happened to all those unlimited data plans that were going to allow Apple's iCloud to become a serious storage platform? In an era of ever increasing resolutions and ever shrinking data plans, why are we expected to settle for local storage that is less than a tenth of what the PC era gave us? Each of us has different expectations as to what makes a great tablet, but I don't recall reading post after post and thread after thread about how bad the resolution was or how slow the processor is. So why is Apple so busy fixing what isn't even broken and yet so hesitant to address (or even acknowledge) what people are actually upset about?

What do you want Apple to do? Buy ATT? I don't know how Apple can solve the problem although I'm sure their business would pick up if the problem was solved.

 

[JHankwitz]

So the verdict on the name is "The new iPad?" We definitely can't just call it iPad, as we reference the original iPad all the time.

And when you order the next iPad in 2013, and ask for a "new iPad", you'll get last year's model. Clever.

 

[Rizzm]

It could be just iPad, just like iPod, or iMac, or MacBook Air.

It's the iPad (3rd Generation)

Ah, right. Can't believe I didn't think this.

So it'll still be called iPad 3 or perhaps 3iPad to maybe keep the consistency of generation syntax on this forum.

 

[rovex]

It appears they may not have updated the front camera - still listing as VGA for the 'Facetime' camera on the front. The back camera was updated to 5 megapixels but Apple appears to be very vague about the specs for the front facing camera. I find it hard to believe that they would leave it at under 1 megapixel. Anyone with more info on that?

No changes were sought from what i gather. Hard to believe given the iPad is idle for FaceTime.